"Classes for babies have got extremely popular in the last few years, " said Lisa Wilkinson, of the Elbow Room centre in Smithfield, Dublin, which offers baby yoga, pilates and massage classes. "They're a great opportunity for babies to receive lots of attention and care, and for mothers and babies to bond. Then there are a lot of health benefits."

In baby yoga and pilates, infants and mothers follow a routine whereby the babies have their legs and arms gently rotated by their mothers and their tummies massaged. This, said Wilkinson, is good for colic and constipation. Mothers rub the soles of their babies' feet to encourage their children to grip with their toes, before putting them on their tummy so they will arch their back and lift their heads.

"These days, mothers are afraid to put babies on their tummies because of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), " said Wilkinson. "This has led to a whole generation of bum-shuffling babies who don't know how to crawl. Putting them on their tummy releases the pressure put on their spine from always sitting upright in car seats and high chairs. Most of them hate it at first, but once they get used to it, they love it."

Once the babies have finished their routine, the mothers do some post-natal yoga, often playing with their babies by using them as weights.

Gail Bovenizer of Harmony Yoga Ireland started her baby yoga and baby massage classes in 2002, after her twin girls were born three months prematurely. "Four years ago, there was nothing like this in Ireland and I really wanted it for my girls, " she said. "Massage is something that can be done from six weeks onwards and it's such a good way for mothers to have quiet time with their baby."

Over a five-week period, mothers are taught to massage their babies and help relieve wind, constipation and colic. It also works to wind down cross and cranky infants. "Once we're finished, the room is just full of sleepy babies, " said Bovenizer.

"They all fall asleep straight away. It's some sight."

But there are no sleepy babies at the Gymboree musical appreciation classes that are held throughout the country, according to owner Susan Gilmore. They hold classes for children from birth onwards and their biggest business is in the under-three-years market.

"For our youngest class, the aim is for them to become calm and more aware of themselves, " said Gilmore. "Classes are quite structured. We do tactile stimulation, songs with fingers and gentle rocking songs. Then we have tummy time, playing with mirrors and putting babies together to work on their socialisation."

For six months and up, different types of music are explored. Gilmore's class is currently on Cajun music and will soon be moving to classical, polka and reggae. "Children just love music and they really respond to it, " she said. "And there's growing evidence that exposure to music helps brain development."

Gymboree also offers baby gym classes, where infants explore different types of play, but their most exciting new course is baby sign language, which is due to start in the new year.

"The point of baby sign language is to be able to develop your baby's communication skills along with the vocal, " said Gilmore. "A child will understand you before they can talk to you, so this course is about teaching them simple signs they can use when they want to communicate with their parents."

The 'hungry' sign, for instance, is a fist being brought to the lips twice, while 'sleepy' is eyes being rubbed. "These kind of classes are fun and rewarding for both mother and baby, " said Gilmore.

"That's why they just keep getting more popular."